Napoli tops Serie A as Lookman’s late strike secures victory for Atalanta

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Inter Milan's Polish midfielder #07 Piotr Zielinski (L) vies with Monza's Bosnian forward #11 Milan Djuric during the Italian Serie A football match between AC Monza and Inter Milan at the Brianteo stadium in Monza, on September 15, 2024. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP)

Napoli climbed to the top of Serie A with an emphatic 4-0 win over Cagliari on Sunday, a match briefly halted in the first half due to unruly fan behavior. Meanwhile, Inter Milan stumbled with a 1-1 draw against Monza, just days before their Champions League clash with Manchester City.

Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman also made headlines, securing a crucial 3-2 win over Fiorentina ahead of their Champions League return.

Napoli’s victory came courtesy of goals from Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Romelu Lukaku, and Alessandro Buongiorno. This marked their third consecutive win, putting them a point ahead of Inter, Torino, and Juventus. The focus now shifts to their upcoming showdown with Juve in Turin.

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Napoli’s new head coach, Antonio Conte, praised his team’s efforts but acknowledged that all teams are still settling into the season. “We’ve worked hard these last few months and must keep pushing forward,” Conte said.

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However, the match was marred by clashes between Napoli and Cagliari fans, leading to a seven-minute stoppage. The away fans’ provocative banner mocking the local Sardinian supporters escalated into projectile-throwing, but order was restored, and Napoli pressed on to victory.

Elsewhere, Inter Milan relinquished their lead in the league after a lackluster performance against Monza. Denzel Dumfries salvaged a point with a late equalizer after Dany Mota’s 81st-minute header gave Monza a brief lead. With a crucial match against Manchester City looming, Inter’s coach Simone Inzaghi will be looking to improve their form.

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Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman made an immediate impact in their 3-2 triumph over Fiorentina. Lookman, returning to action after speculation over a move to PSG, scored a stunning solo goal in stoppage time to give his team the lead at halftime. He also provided an assist for Mateo Retegui’s equalizer earlier in the match.

Lookman’s return is a boost for Atalanta ahead of their Champions League encounter with Arsenal. “We’re excited to be back in the Champions League and need to bring the same energy we showed today,” said Lookman, whose side will play their first home match of the season at their newly revamped Gewiss Stadium.

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Atalanta’s win puts them eighth in the table, while Fiorentina, still winless under new coach Raffaele Palladino, remain in 14th place.

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In other action, Genoa snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw against Roma, continuing their strong start to the season. Genoa now sit 10th, while Roma languish in 15th.

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